Steam iron



May 26, 1959 M. M. Kls'rNER 2,887,800

STEAM IRON Filed may 27, 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEYS May '26, 1959 Filed May 2v, 1957 MQ M. KlsTNER STEAM IRON 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNvr-:N-roR Merrill M. Kisfner www@ ATTORNEYS United States Patent STEAM IRON Merrill Miller Kistner, St. Petersburg, Fla. Application May 27, 1957, Serial No. 661,635

7 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to steam irons, and more particularly to a domestic steam iron of the ,flash type, in which the supply of water tothe steam generating chamber of the sole-plate and the thermostat control are interconnected and operable by a single disc or operating member. 4

p Heretofore steam irons have been made of two types, the ash type and the boiler type.Y In Hash type irons, as disclosed in my prior Patents No. 2,313,382, granted March 9, 1943, and No. 2,384,839, granted September 18, 1945, a quantity of water is contained in a reservoir mounted over the sole4plate and the water is generating chamber in the sole-plate. ow from the steam generating chamber `through 4channels in the sole-plate to outlet or discharge openings in the sole-plate to properly condition the steam, as disclosed and claimed in Patent No. 2,384,839.

f `In commercial steam irons at present available itis thev usual practice to provide valve-controlled means for ,the 'delivery of water to the steam generating chamber that is incapable of regulation, i.e., the valve has only an on position and an off position. To obtain the full advantages of an iron of this type, the water control should be capable of regulation. When pressing heavier fabrics requiring higher temperatures, larger quantities of steam should be supplied. f l

. In addition, as the temperature of the sole-plate is increased, the amount of steam generated should be proportionately increased to assure production of a uniform typeof steam at all temperatures. For best operation', -a steam iron should produce steam that is not too wet, that is, does not contain any appreciable quantity of water droplets in liquid form. Such steam causes spotting of various fabrics. On the other hand, the steam should not be `superheated 'to` an appreciable amount. If it is, no condensation will take place in the fabric and the fabric will not be conditioned in the pressing operation in themanner that a properly constructed'and properly used steam iron is capable of conditioning fabric.

It will be apparent that a certain portion of the heat supplied by the heating element of an iron is used for' heating the sole-plate and a certain proportion is usedY to vaporize the water supplied to the steam generating chamber and condition the steam before -it is delivered to the discharge ports. This proportion is roughly the same at any setting of the thermostat. It will thus be apparent that in an iron having only one rate of water delivery to the steam generating chamber, the type of steam` delivered will vary with different thermostat settings. If a properly conditioned steam is `delivered with a low thermostat setting, a higher setting requiring a greater heat input to maintain the sole-plate at the higher temperature, will result in superheating the steam to an extent that the iron does not properly condition the fabric, because -insufficient steam is condensed in thefabric. Likewise, if` the steam delivered is in properv condition ICC with ya high setting, a lower setting will result in the delivery of steam that is too wet and which will spot delicate, colored fabrics.

In my copending application, Serial No. 617,777, filed Cctober 23, 1956, I have disclosed a ash type iron in which the water delivery of the iron is correlated to the temperature setting of the thermostat, and in which a ,single control member regulates the setting of the valve and the thermostat. The present invention is directed to improved means to accomplish the valve regulation and thermostat setting.

In the construction of domestic steam irons, a handle is provided consisting of a gripping portion arranged over the shell which covers the reservoir with front and rear legs secured to the body of the iron. The valve stern l v extends upwardly through a bore in the front leg, and is I 'the steam generating chamber.

provided with operating means on the top of the handle.

In the present invention I provide a control member in the form of a disc or similar rotating member mounted in the :liront leg of the handle substantially concentric with the axis of the front leg and the valve stern mounted therein. This member controls a pair of sets of cams, one of which co-operates with suitable connecting means to regulate the setting of the thermostat, and the other of which regulates the opening of the valve through .suitable connections to the valve stem. By properly Calibrating the control mechanism, the supply of water to the steam generating chamber can be regulated with respect to the temperature setting to provide steam of substantially uniform character at all times. The cam arrangement may also provide a dry or closed valve setting between each pair of temperature settings so that the iron can be switched from steam to dry by a very slight movement of the cam.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In the showing:

Pig. 1 is a vertical, longitudinal, sectional view of an iron showing the invention applied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, sectional view, in the same plane as Fig. 1, of the forward portion of the iron showing the controls;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal, `sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2 showing the cam that regulates the thermostat setting; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the cam member.

Certain parts of the illustrated iron are of more or less conventional construction and are included for the purpose of illustrating an operative iron in which the parts forming the present invention have their environment. Thus, the iron includes a sole-plate 2, with a heating element 4 embedded in it. Water reservoir 6 is arranged over the s olepla te, preferably covered by a shell 8. A handle 10 is mounted over thev shell. The rear leg 12 of the handle may be provided with a recess for electric terminals (not shown) to be connected to a cord connector (not shown). A lead 16 extends from the recess to one terminal of thermostat 18. A second lead from recess 14 (not shown) and a lead from the thermostat (not shown) are connected to the terminals of heating element 4. v

The sole-plate may be of the construction shown in my prior Patent No. 2,384,839. As shown in that patent, the heating element 4 generally follows the contour of the sole-plate, being in the form of a U. A steam generating chamber 20 is arranged in the sole-plate in the loop of the heating element, :and channels 22 are connected to These channels convey the steam from the steam `generating chamber to discharge ports (not shown) in the sole-plate. The thermostat 18 is mounted in a well 24 in the sole-plate in the rear of steam channels or passages 22.

The front leg of handle is formed of a lower portion 28 and an upper portion 30, the upper portion being formed integral with the gripping portion 32 of the handle. Lower handle portion 28 is provided with a central bore 34 and a front llingopening 36. A lower, substantially cylindrical extension 38 passes through an opening in the top of shell 8. Bore 34 extends through' it' and communi# cates with an opening in the top ofthe reservoir. A- cover plate 40 is secured to the sole-plate over the portionin' which the channels 22 are arranged. The cover plate is provided with an opening 42 over the steam generatingy chamber. A dome-shaped member 44 of low heat conductive metal is secured to the cover and mounted'l`v in opening 42. An internally threaded'nut- 46 is brazed; orotherwise mounted in a central opening in the member 44. An externally threaded valve seat member 48 is received in nut 46. As shown, the valvel seat memberv extends through an opening in the bottom of the reservoir. It is provided with a head 50 of larger diameter than this opening. The head engagesl the inside surface of the bottom of the reservoir and clamps the reservoir between the head 50 and nut 46. Suitable gaskets may be arranged on the nut 46 and beneath head 50to prevent leakage of water. At the rear of the iron, the reservoir is supported above the sole-plate by bracket 52.

Valve seat member 48 is provided with a central bore 54. At the bottom of bore 54, I provide a conical section 56, which forms the valve seat. A bore 58 of smaller diameter than bore 54 is formed beneathy the valve seat. The valve is formed on a valve stem 60, and consists of a conical section 62 adjacent the lower end of the stem. The end 64 of the stem is a second conical section. atl a lesser angle to the axis of the valve stem than the angleof section 62. The valve seat 56 and valve 62 are-off the same angle and are in engagement with each other when' the valve is closed. But when the valve stem is raised the space between the lower bore 58, which is cylindrical, and the tapered end portion 64 of the valve stem increases as the stem is raised to increase the amount of water de livered to the steam generating chamber..

Valve stem 60 extends upwardly through the reservoir and bore 34 in the front leg of the handle. A sleeve 66v is arranged in the upper end of bore 34 and extends through an opening 68 in the lower portion 28 of the front leg of the handle. It is provided with a flange 70 to engage the upper face of the portion 28 and is externally threaded at its lower end to receive a nut 72 to secure it in place. Valve stem 60 extends through a central opening in sleeve 66. Spring 73 surrounds the valve stem. At its upper end the spring engages a washer 74 positioned at the top of the bore of sleeve 66, and at its lower end it engages a spring washer 76 surrounding the valve stem and held in place in any suitable manner. The spring thus biases the valve toward a closed position and is placed under compression when the valve is opened by raising* the valve stem.

Cam member 78 is mounted on sleeve 66above the lower portion Z8 of the front leg. This'member hasy al set of cams on its lower face to regulate the thermostat anda set of cams on its upper face to regulate the valve. These cams will be described in detail hereinafter. As shown in Fig. 5, the cam member consists of a disc member 80 and a sleeve portion 82 of smaller diameter than the disc. A pin 84 projects upwardly from the disc 80 and isl received in an opening 86 (see Fig. 3) in an operating disc 88. Disc 88 has a central opening of proper size to receive the sleeve portion 82 of the cam member. It may be provided with a rib 90 on its lower face received in a peripheral ange 92 on the upper surface of front leg portion 28. It is locked to the cam disc by pin 8480 that when operating disc 88 is turned, the cam disc. turns with it. As shown in Figs. l and 2, the operating disc is of greater diameter than the portion 30 of the front legk which is arranged over it. It is preferably formed of a suitable plastic and has indicia 91 on its upper surface which cooperates with a suitable indicator on the front of upper leg portion 30 (not shown) to indicate the setting of the thermostat and valve. The portion of sleeve 66 above the discs 78 and 88 is externally threaded as at 93 and is provided with a transverse slot 94. A nut 96 on the threaded portion of sleeve 66 is tightened against the shoulder formed at the bottom of the threads 93 and the upper surface of disc 78 to hold the parts assembled.

An operating arm 98 is provided with an opening to receive threads 100 on the upper end of the valve stem. This arm extends through slot 94 at each side to prevent it from turning when the valve stem is turned. One end 102 of the arm is offset to engage the cam on the upper i surface of cam disc 78. By turning the' valve stem, arm

98 may be adjusted to calibrate the valve setting. The upper end of the valve stem is provided with a slot 104 for the reception of a screw-driver or other suitable tool to rotate the valve stern. A jam nut 106 may be arranged on the valve stem above the arm 98. As shown, it is also provided with a slot 108 for the reception of a screwdriver or other suitable tool.

The portion 30 of the front leg has a recess 110 in its lower face into which the upper end of the sleeve 66 projects. The bottom of the recess is cylindrical and receives a threaded cap 112 which engages threads 93. The top of the handle is provided with an opening for the passage of a screw 114. The screw is received in a threaded opening in cap 112 to secure the front end of the handle of the iron to the rest of the assembly.

As shown, the lower portion 28 of the front leg ofthe handle slopes rearwardly on the side opposite the filling opening 34, as indicated at 116. This is to accommodate a portion of the thermostat operating mechanism. A compound king bolt 118 having a lower threaded portion is received in a tapped opening in the rib 26. A nut 120 on the threaded portion engages the cover 40 and secures the rear edge of the cover to the sole-plate. The king bolt extends to the top of shell 8 through a tube 121 which passes through the reservoir 6. The upper end of the king bolt passes through an opening in shell 8 and is externally threaded. Immediately below the threaded portion the bolt is provided with an enlargement 122 which is positioned beneath the top of the shell when the iron is assembled. A nut 123 is arranged on the threaded portion of the king bolt to clamp the shell between it and the enlargement 122. A compound lever member 124 forms a part of the thermostat control and extends from under sleeve 80 of the cam member 78 to the king bolt.

` This lever member includes a vertical rod or pin 126 havinga rounded upper end which engages the cam member, an inclined portion 128 extending from the plane of the king bolt 118 and a rod member 130. The latter is received in a central lbore 132 of the upper portion of the king bolt. Rod 130 is also provided with a central bore,

the.I lower portion of which is threaded. Screw 133 is arranged in the threaded portion of the bore. It engages apin 134 which passes through slots 136 in the wall of the king bolt.

Pin 134 is secured to a tube 137 which surrounds the king bolt. Tube 137 carries a plate 138 which engages the thermostat 18 in a conventional manner to regulate the. setting of the thermostat. For the initial calibration of the thermostat, surface 116 is provided with an opening in alignment with the bore of rod 130. A suitable tool may be inserted in this opening to engage screw 133 and thus adjust the position of pin 134. After the thermostat has been calibrated, the opening may be closed by ,l plug 140.

y tothe sole-plate assembly. The upper portion of the handle is secured to the assembly by screw 114 engaging;

ca'p`112 which, in turn, is threaded to the upper end of sleeve 66. At the `rear of the iron, sole-plate 2 terminates inwardly of therear ange 142 of the shell. This space is normally closed'by a plate 144. Ihe plate is Aheldin position by a screw 146 which is received in a tapped opening in an extension of bracket 52. As shown, the bracket extends upwardly adjacent flange 1142 and then parallel to the top of the shell, as at 145. A screw 147 passes through an opening in the shell and is received in a tapped opening in the extension 145 to secure the rear of the shell to the sole-plate assembly. The shell is also provided with openings (not shown) to each side of the screw 147 to receive screws (not shown) inserted from below which are received in tapped openings in the lower face of rear leg 12. 'Ihese screws are inserted to secure the rear leg to the assembly with the plate 144 removed.

The details of the cams which control valve operating arm 98 and thermostat control lever 124 are shown in Figs. 3 to 5. As stated, the cam 150 controlling valve arm 98 is carried by sleeve 82. The device is calibrated by adjusting the position of arm 98 on the threaded portion of the valve stern to a point where the spring 73 closes the valve when the arm is in engagement with a low portion of the cam. Thus, the cam has a relatively long, low portion 152 for use as a dry iron, and corresponding to the four adjacent segments 154 of disc 88 (see Fig. 3) in which the valve is in a closed position and the iron may be used as a dry iron. At one end of the low portion 152, to the right in Fig. 5, the rst rise 156 in the cam opens valve 62 to furnish a water supply that is proper tor a sole-plate temperature of 300. This is indicated by segment 158 of disc 88 which will be in alignment with the indicator on the front of the handle when arm 98 is in engagement with the section 156 of the cam. As the cam and disc are rotated, the arm 98 will be brought into engagement with a high point 160 and a high point 162. These correspond to indicia 164 and 166, respectively, on the disc 88 and indicate progressively increasing opening of the valve and increased water supply as the temperature is raised due to the thermostat adjustment, as will be hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 5, cam 150 is also provided with low points 168 between each pair of high points. While these low points are shown slightly higher than the section 152, they permit arm 98 to assume a position that allows spring 73 to close the valve. They correspond to segments 168 of disc 88,v and their purpose is to permit shifting from a steam iron to a dry iron with little change in temperature of the sole-plate and without moving thevcontrol through 90 or more to bring the arm into engagement with a portion of the section 152 of the cam.

As stated, the valve control and thermostat control are simultaneously adjusted. Disc portion 80 of control member 78 has a series of cams 170 on its lower face. These cams engage the rounded upper end of compound lever 124. The compound lever is biased upwardly by the resiliency of the thermostatic element with which the arm 138 is in engagement. As the cam 170 increases in height to further depress lever 124, the setting of the thermostat is changed to increase the temperature to which the sole-plate will be raised. The valve controlling cams on sleeve 82 and the thermostat controlling cam 170 are properly positioned with respect to each other to give the proper valve opening for the corresponding thermostat setting. For example, the highest portion 162 of the valve controlling cam is positioned circumferentially in alignment with a `portion of cam 170 which will set the thermostat for a temperature of 400 with some of the heat input being consumed to form steam. 'Ihe cam positions are also correlated to disc 88 and when they are assembled, relative movement is prevented by the reception of pin 84 in opening 86.

The illustration of three inter-related thermostat settings and three Valve settings and means forv setting the thermostat throughout a temperature range` with the valve closed is merely one example of the innumerable combinations that may be made by'use of different cams.

- The invention is, therefore, not t'be considered as limited to the illustrated arrangement.

Regulation of the supply of water correlated to the temperature setting of the sole-plate to secure steam of substantially the same character at any temperature setting is a highly desirable feature. In addition, the means herein disclosed for obtaining such regulation, operable from a single disc on the front leg of the handle of the iron, is highly desirable and constitutes an important feature of the invention.

I claim:

l. In an electric steam iron comp-rising a sole-plate having a steam generating chamber, steam delivery channels in the sole-plate and outlet openings in its lower face, a water reservoir over the sole-plate, a handle over the reservoir, said handle comprising front and rear legs and a lgripping portion, the sole-plate, reservoir and handle lbeing operatively connected to each other to form a unitary structure, a valve controlling delivery of water from the reservoir to the steam generating chamber, a vallve stem connected to the valve, a thermostat to control the temperature of the sole-plate, a thermostat control trod associated with the thermostat, that improvement which comprises a control disc mounted in the front leg of the handle substantially concentric with the valve stem, |said disc having two sets of concentric cams, means on the valve stem cooperating with one set of cams to regulate the opening of the valve, and means operatively connecting the thermostat control rod to the other set of cams to regulate the setting of the thermostat.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the front Ileg of the handle is formed of two parts, and the control disc fis mounted between them.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim l in which the valveis biased toward a closed position and the cams associated with the valve stem raise the stem to open the valve.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim l in which the series of cams controlling the valve has several sections which permit the valve to remain in closed position to permit fuse of the iron as a dry iron and regulation of the temperature of the iron during such use.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim l in which the thermostat control member comprises a compound llever extending downwardly through the front leg of the handle, then toward the rear of the iron, and then downwardly to the thermostat in the sole-plate.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim l in which one set of cams is arranged on the lower face of the control disc and the other set of cams is ananged on its upper face.

7. In an electric steam iron compris-ing a sole-plate having a steam Igenerating chamber, steam delivery channels in the sole-plate and outlet openings in its lower face, a water reservoir over the sole-plate, a handle over the reservoir, said handle comprising front and rear legs and a gripping portion, the sole-plate, reservoir and handle being operatively connected to each other to form a unitary structure, a valve controlling delivery of water from the reservoir to the steam generating chamlber, a valve stem connected to the valve, a thermostat to control the temperature of the sole-plate, a thermostat control rod associated with the thermostat, that improvement which comprises a control disc mounted in the front leg of the handle substantially concentric with the valve stem, means on said disc to raise rthe valve Istern upon rotation of said disc to open the valve, and means on said disc operatively connected to the thermostat control rod to regulate the setting of the thermostat.

(References on following page) 7 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,518,503 UNITED. STATES. PATENTS f/gg 2,342,716 Woodman Feb. 29,` 1944 2,411,199 Felver Nov. 19, 1946 Edwards Oct. 4, 1949 767,929

FOREIGN PATENTSv 1 f v Great Britain Feb. lf3,l 1957A 

